If you love KFC coleslaw over any other, grab these easy to access ingredients and make your own! While you can whip up this homemade coleslaw in a short amount of time, chill time is key so be sure to start early in the day.
Why this recipe works
My favorite coleslaw has always been from KFC. Making it at home is easy and it makes a great take-along to potlucks and backyard barbecues.
The results, at first taste were pretty close to KFC’s, but there seemed to be an overwhelming fresh cabbage flavor right after making it. However, after this sat in the refrigerator for several hours, the cabbage had time to soak up the flavor of the dressing, and that did it! Just like KFC!
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
SLAW – We are using green cabbage, not red/purple. Fresh carrot should be grated fine, and if you don’t want a pink tint to you slaw, squeeze out the excess moisture before combining it with the other slaw ingredients.
DRESSING – Some have said that tarragon vinegar is used in the original KFC coleslaw recipe. Tarragon vinegar has a mild flavor and can definitely be used instead of the white vinegar we suggest. We’ve included some tips below for replacing the buttermilk if needed, and have answered the question regarding Miracle Whip vs. mayonnaise in this recipe.
How to Make KFC Coleslaw
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Chop cabbage into chunks and run through your food processor, or chop finely. It’s up to you to decide the size you’d like your cabbage slaw to be.
- Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a large bowl and whisk well.
- Combine cabbage, carrots, and onion and toss well. Pour dressing over the slaw and turn to coat until fully incorporated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving to allow the cabbage to soak up the marinade. Overnight is best.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Using a food processor makes quick work of creating the slaw. However, if you don’t have a food processor, you can use a box grater.
If you insist on using Miracle Whip to make this coleslaw instead of mayonnaise, be sure to reduce the sugar by half. I cannot guarantee your results as I have not made it with Miracle Whip and the flavor of each item is very different.
If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own. Add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1/4 cup of milk to replace the buttermilk.
This recipe for KFC coleslaw uses white vinegar. However, many have commented that when working at KFC back in the day, tarragon vinegar was used. Substituting tarragon for the white is absolutely acceptable.
When you first make this KFC coleslaw, there will be an overwhelming flavor of cabbage. Do not despair! Allow the finished coleslaw to sit for at least 4 hours to allow the flavors to soak into the cabbage. Eating it too soon will result in a heavy cabbage flavor.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe for homemade KFC coleslaw goes well with many dishes. Be sure to try it with our Crispy Fried Chicken, Oven Fried Chicken, Oven Fried Chicken Breasts, or Oven Fried Chicken Legs. Make a KFC copycat meal by baking up our favorite homemade biscuits and making our grilled corn on the cob!
More Potluck Recipes
If you’re looking for more food processor recipes, try these!
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KFC Coleslaw recipe
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
DRESSING:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
SLAW:
- 2 pounds cabbage (medium head)
- 2 ounces carrot about 1/4 cup, or one medium carrot
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Fresh carrot should be grated fine, and if you don’t want a pink tint to you slaw, squeeze out the excess moisture before combining it with the other slaw ingredients.
- When you first make this KFC coleslaw, there will be an overwhelming flavor of cabbage. Do not despair! Allow the finished coleslaw to sit for at least 4 hours to allow the flavors to soak into the cabbage. Eating it too soon will result in a heavy cabbage flavor.
- If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own. Add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1/4 cup of milk to replace the buttermilk.
- If you insist on using Miracle Whip to make this coleslaw instead of mayonnaise, be sure to reduce the sugar by half. I cannot guarantee your results as I have not made it with Miracle Whip and the flavor of each item is very different.
Instructions
- Chop cabbage into chunks and run through your food processor, or chop fine. It’s up to you to decide the size you’d like your cabbage to be.
- Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a large bowl, whisk well.
- Combine cabbage, carrots, and onion and toss well. Pour dressing over the slaw and turn to coat well.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving to allow the cabbage to soak up the marinade. Overnight is best.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on this blog on June 27, 2010 and has since been updated with tips and new photos.
Amanda Davis
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Susan Grumbley says
I really liked this recipe. Although it didn’t taste like KFC, it was excellent. Thank you very much!
Krista says
This is by far the closest if not identical taste that I remember! Thank you!
I followed exactly and completely appreciated the tip to squeeze out the excess moisture from the carrots.
Katrina H Melo says
Delicious indeed.
Anona Moose says
This wasn’t the same as KFC, BUT dang…..it was good.
No more running to KFC for sides of slaw when we’re in the mood.
Paired with home made chicken tenders it was a 1/4 of the cost too!!!! Only change was to cut the sugar in half.
Tammy says
Can you use bagged pre shredded coke slaw mix?
Amanda Formaro says
We have never made this with bagged coleslaw mix. I feel like the shreds of cabbage are pretty large in those bags. Plus there is red cabbage in the bagged mix which isn’t in this recipe. However, if you decide to experiment we would love to hear your results!
Brenda Taylor says
I’ve made this recipe for years using the bagged slaw mix. It’s actually really good and the red cabbage doesn’t make a difference in taste. I’ve found it’s just so much easier and sometimes cheaper to use bagged instead of buying every vegetable for the dish. I recommend this recipe to everyone. I also add dried dill to mine, but I just prefer it. No one has mentioned they didn’t like it, it’s just requested for every gathering lol
Amanda Formaro says
That’s great to know, thank you!
Bob Valenta says
I have loved this recipe for awhile. But, I add/alter:
Use Miracle Whip instead of Mayo (I know, I know, there’s 3 things you don’t talk about… politics, religion, and Miracle Whip)
Use all buttermilk
Use Cider Vinegar w/ Mother, instead of white
Add 1/ tsp. Celery Seed
Add 1/2 Tbsp. horseradish (if it’s lost its heat, I go with 1T.)
I prefer shredding the cabbage, myself. But, in a pinch, I have used bagged diced with pretty good success. Not quite as good.
Sandie says
I use bagged coleslaw and chop it up smaller. It works great!!! Easier to chop too. Absolutely delicious recipe.!!
Cheryl wagner says
Made it over and over again for years. Shared your recipe with family. Everyone just loves it. It never has the chance to lose flavor, gone in 3 days and tastes just as good as the first. Thank you so much
Steven Lee says
Yummy..
James A. Dewar says
Thankyou
Patti Truckey says
Can’t wait to try this at our community picnic!!! I just found your site!! Sound like we could be besties!! I love to cook and bake, but then I feed my neighbors as I’m not big eater! Love to craft!!! :)
Barbara Stapleton says
I love this recipe. I recently made 6x the recipe, used the food processor to chop the cabbage, put it in colanders to drain but no juice /water came out. I put the dressing on it and in the morning the dressing seems to have pulled a lot of moisture out of it and it really watered the dressing down, a lot. Can you do anything to the cabbage before the dressing goes on to get the moisture out?
Amanda Formaro says
It should soak up the dressing as it sits, we suggest waiting at least 24 hours before tasting :)
Joyce says
In the mid 90’s, I bought a container of KFC coleslaw and it listed the ingredients on the lid.
KFC uses Miracle whip, green onions and onion powder, salt, sugar and vinegar, in their dressing. I processed the cabbage and carrots and added the dressing until there was enough to incorporate the ingredients.
Christine Apuzzo says
This is so good! Thank You for lemon juice tip!! Thank You!!
MsKay says
Good the first day then loses flavor.
Amanda Formaro says
Hmm, that hasn’t been my experience! Sorry you did.
Jeffrey says
Hi Amanda!
Wonderful website! Thanks so much for the slaw recipe! It’s exactly like kfc! My favorite. I have lots of cabbage right now. You inspired me to try and replicate a slaw recipe from a small local chicken 🐔 restaurant in our area called, Lee’s chicken 🐓!! They will not give me the recipe! !! I can do it
Thanks!!!
Jeffrey
Amanda Formaro says
Awesome, I hope it comes out GREAT!
Michele Spencer says
This is now a family favorite! Thank you so much! Our family dinner doesn’t like the cole slaw you get from the deli or store. My father in law and my mom an son husband all said it was the best they ever had! :)
Amanda Formaro says
Hurray! Thank you so much for letting me know, so glad you all loved it!
Amy says
Hi Im doing a yield test for this recipe and would like I know how much waste does this recipe have?
Mary says
Delicious! Had a lot of cabbage so I had to make a little more dressing. Did it by 1.5 and it was perfect! Also used the lemon & milk for the buttermilk. Thank you for sharing this! 😊🙃🙂
Amanda Formaro says
So glad you loved it!!
Marie Cunningham says
I’m not positive, but l do believe horse radish is in the recipe for KFC Cole slaw.
Angelina says
I’ve always thought so, as well. No recipe ever addresses that flavor, which I always pick up in KFC coleslaw. I wish someone would comment on that.
Linda Bragg says
Hello Amanda,
Just a heads up on this recipe…. Copycat coleslaw recipe of KFC’s …..Though you would like to know I received an email today from Pinterest and previously I had pinned this to my Pinterest site and they notified me that they had Removed this recipe from my Pinterest board due to someone making complaints about a copyright issue. So to those who have pinned this…print out the recipe if ya wanna keep it. Thats what I did here. Love your blog and will continue to read and pin recipes etc. ! :)
Here is a copy of the letter I received below:
We’re getting in touch to let you know we received a copyright complaint and…
We’re getting in touch to let you know we received a copyright complaint and have removed one (or more) of your Pins.The complaint wasn’t directed against you or your Pin; it was directed against another user’s Pin of the same content from:
https://amandascookin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/coleslawtop.jpg
infringment pin
While many copyright owners are happy to have their content on Pinterest, we recognize that some do not want their content to appear on Pinterest, or did not receive attribution for the content. When a copyright owner sends us a complete notice per the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), it’s our policy to remove the Pin(s).
Again, this complaint was not directed at you, or anything you did: we just thought you’d like to know why we removed your Pin.
Thanks again for using Pinterest.
The Pinterest Team
Pinterest DMCA #ID1009168248
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Linda and sorry that happened! I got an email about it too and it’s really weird because it’s MY photo that was reported and I didn’t report it. I’ve written to Pinterest about it. Thanks!